Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

David Moscato @dmos150.bsky.social · 4d

Spook-E Season has begun!

Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 4d

Let's-a go! Our first monster of 2025 is here!

This episode, we begin with a baddie from the Mushroom Kingdom. What evolutionary path might generate a pipe-dwelling plant-like predator? Our creatures to create this time: Piranha Plants.

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Reposted by David Moscato

Riley Black 🦕 🏳️‍⚧️ @restingdinoface.bsky.social · 20d

In case you missed it, we got a new dinosaur yesterday!

Riley Black 🦕 🏳️‍⚧️ @restingdinoface.bsky.social · 21d

New dinosaur day! Meet Zavacephale, the oldest and most-complete pachycephalosaur yet described. And it’s tiny, a beeper that only weighed about 10kg. I’ll tell you all about it at NatGeo.

Dome-headed dinosaurs are rare. Scientists just found the most remarkable one yet.

When did these blockhead dinosaurs get their domes? A new fossil is “the specimen we have all been waiting for.”

www.nationalgeographic.com

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David Moscato @dmos150.bsky.social · 20d

At long last, @paleolorax.bsky.social gives us her Plant-Based History of the Earth!

Leaf It To Us Podcast @leafittouspod.bsky.social · 20d

Scientists organize the history of the Earth based on the experiences of animals. But what if the Geologic Time Scale was plant-centric? This episode, Aly presents Nora with her take on a time scale based on the evolution and extinction of plants through time.

Image by Lucy Wayland

A photo of rock layers tilted in multiple directions, all overgrown with plants.
Text above the image says "Episode 12 - The Geologic Time Scale According to Plants"
Image by Lucy Wayland

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David Moscato @dmos150.bsky.social · 20d

Sounds like we really made an impact 😅

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Reposted by David Moscato

Leaf It To Us Podcast @leafittouspod.bsky.social · Sep 4

Plants require sunlight to survive, but when night falls and the daytime-dwellers disappear, many varieties of flower come alive. This episode, Nora and Aly explore the allure of “moon gardens” and the adaptations that allow beautiful and aromatic flowers to thrive in darkness.

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David Moscato @dmos150.bsky.social · Sep 2

Thank you!

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David Moscato @dmos150.bsky.social · Aug 31

Such fun! Such chaos! Such science!

Ryan Consell @stealingfromwizards.com · Aug 31

Had a blast after Solve for X at DragonCon sharing distressing animal facts with @dmos150.bsky.social @haruspex.bsky.social @panic.gay and @tkingfisher.com

I love this place.

Five people posing for a photo in a hotel hallway at DragonCon.

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David Moscato @dmos150.bsky.social · Aug 30

Well I do say that

Dragon Con Science Track @dconscitrack.bsky.social · Aug 29

“There is no way dinosaurs weren’t super gay.” - @dmos150.bsky.social

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Reposted by David Moscato

Leaf It To Us Podcast @leafittouspod.bsky.social · Aug 21

Some plants get big – like, several acres big – like, an entire forest big – like, the largest living things on the planet big. This episode, Nora and Aly address some of the most sprawling plants on Earth and explore the plant super-powers that allow them to achieve super-size.

An image of a grove of Pando trees, with text that says Episode 10: Plant Super-Organisms.

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David Moscato @dmos150.bsky.social · Aug 21

PUMPED

Butt teeth! Butt teeth! Butt teeth! @panic.gay · Aug 20

I'm still agog and agag and agiddy about this lineup.

@siliconchef.bsky.social
@tkingfisher.com
@effinbirds.com
@dmos150.bsky.social
@haruspex.bsky.social
@stealingfromwizards.com

All on one show (plus other very cool people who I don't think are on bsky)!!!

SOLVE FOR X PRESENTS:

Nerd Nite Dragon Con

Hosted by: RAE PENDERGRASS

Inreverent, snarky lectures on:

2Y2K: the Y2K sequel nobody wanted by DCTV Star Brian Richardson

Truth Decay: critical thinking in the face of machine confidence by Sci Track favorite Jessica Cail

Birds who Breck the binary by t. Kingfisher

Ridiculous games led by:

Effin birds creator Aaron Reynolds

Nerd Nite Asheville veteran rider Barnum

With panelists

David Moscato, Forrest Valkai, Kali Holder, and Ryan Consell

Saturday from 10pm - Midnight in the Hilton Grand East Ballroom

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David Moscato @dmos150.bsky.social · Aug 20

DragonCon is NEXT WEEK!

Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · Aug 19

We're going to be at DragonCon NEXT WEEKEND!

Come say hi!

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David Moscato @dmos150.bsky.social · Aug 13

We'll get through this together!

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Reposted by David Moscato

Bethany Brookshire @beebrookshire.bsky.social · Aug 13

Title: "We Have Wolves At Home": Dire Wolves, Dodos, and De-Extinction

Time: Sat 04:00 pm
Location: 209-211 Hilton (Length: 1 Hour)

@dmos150.bsky.social and I have sworn to support each other emotionally, and hold each other back physically, in this panel.

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Reposted by David Moscato

Leaf It To Us Podcast @leafittouspod.bsky.social · Jul 24

Did you know that placing a banana next to an apple can help the banana ripen faster? Well that was news to some people! This episode, Nora and Aly discuss what exactly is going on inside a ripening fruit and how the fruit knows it’s time to signal its own deliciousness.

Image by Dominique Hessel

A bunch of grapes hangs among leaves. The grapes are different colors at different levels of ripeness. Text above the image says "Episode 8 What Makes Fruit Ripe?"
Image by Dominique Hessel

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Reposted by David Moscato

Ryan Consell @stealingfromwizards.com · Jul 17

I have been told I should crow about this more.
Apparently goodreads reviewers are known to be brutal.

Mostly I'm just glad my books found their audience. #booksky

www.goodreads.com/series/27255...

Screenshot of Stealing from Wizards Goodreads review series summaries.
Volume 1: 4.44 avg rating - 332 ratings
Volume 2: 4.55 avg rating - 209 ratings
Volume 3: 4.72 avg rating - 114 ratings

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David Moscato @dmos150.bsky.social · Jul 16

Blunt head and tail suggests Slimey is a burrower, but the fairly prominent eyes suggest not totally subterranean.

Are the stripes just coloration? Given that he's called a worm, they might be annuli, in which case he's likely an amphisbaenian.

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David Moscato @dmos150.bsky.social · Jul 11

"Aaaaaahhhhhh!"
-plants, somehow

Leaf It To Us Podcast @leafittouspod.bsky.social · Jul 10

Plants do not have mouths, but that doesn’t stop them from expressing themselves! This episode, Nora and Aly touch on the topic of plant communication and explore how plants signal distress.

Image by Mtaufiqurrahman

Close up of grass with cows grazing in the background. Text above the image says "Episode 7 How do Plants Scream Without a Mouth?"

Image by Mtaufiqurrahman

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David Moscato @dmos150.bsky.social · Jun 28

Making a Mesozoic meal!

Leaf It To Us Podcast @leafittouspod.bsky.social · Jun 26

What if you traveled back in time to the Jurassic Period … and got hungry? Could you make a meal with the plants available at the time? This episode, Nora and Aly do some speculative cooking to see what they might include in a Jurassic Salad.

A painting of a Jurassic scene with plenty of plants and some ancient animals. Text above the image says "Episode 6 Jurassic Salad"

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David Moscato @dmos150.bsky.social · May 27

So you're not reading a book about vivid and vivacious viviparous vipers? 😄

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Reposted by David Moscato

Rosemary Mosco @rosemarymosco.com · May 22

Found a baby songbird? Here's a newly updated chart!

A chart that explains what to do If You Find A Baby Songbird Out Of The Nest. Is it hurt or did a cat get it? (Cat bites & scratches cause deadly infections.) or, Has a person kept it for over a day, given it food or water, or gotten it wet? If yes, Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator
or wildlife care center near you. An online search can help. If no, what does it look like? Eyes not yet open. You have a hatchling. It's very young. Eyes open; feathers few & may be in tube-like sheaths. You have a nestling. Feathered; awkwardly hops or flutters; tail & wings short. You have a fledgling. Many sharp teeth; large claw on second toe. You have a velociraptor. If a hatchling or nestling, can you see the nest? If yes, Return it to its nest. The parents won’t care if they can smell you. If no, Make a nest from a basket & dried grass. Wire it to a tree. (Note: A few species, like Juncos, need a nest on the ground.) If a fledgling, is it in immediate danger? If yes, carefully move it to a safer spot nearby. If no, DO NOT INTERVENE! Though the bird looks awkward, it’s in a natural stage & the parents are still feeding it. If a velociraptor, has it seen you? If yes, back away slowly. Do not show fear. If no, run. Watch for others that may attack from the sides. FYI: Some babies (eg. swifts, most woodpeckers) only sit on the ground if in trouble. When in doubt, keep watch & contact a wildlife rehabilitator if needed!

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Reposted by David Moscato

Leaf It To Us Podcast @leafittouspod.bsky.social · May 15

Episode 3 - What's Inside a Pinecone?

Out now!

Featuring an animated discussion about these CT-scan images from the Regents of the University of Michigan.

CT-scan image of a pinecone, showing the internal structure and positions of seeds within.

CT-scan image of a pinecone, showing the external structure.

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Reposted by David Moscato

Leaf It To Us Podcast @leafittouspod.bsky.social · May 11

For the curious, this is the article that inspired this first episode:

The "sex change" (not really, but kinda) of the Fortingall Yew Tree in Scotland
www.thepinknews.com/2015/11/03/e...

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Reposted by David Moscato

Leaf It To Us Podcast @leafittouspod.bsky.social · May 11

Episode 2's bonus episode (Before We Leaf) is now available for our Patrons!

Featuring even more stories of plants vs pets, including that one time David lost a lizard.

Leaf It To Us Podcast @leafittouspod.bsky.social · May 1

Episode 2 - Houseplants vs Housepets

Why are so many of our favorite houseplants so dangerous to our pets? Nora and Aly investigate the antagonism between plants and animals and share some of their favorite stories of plants vs pets.

leafittouspod.podbean.com/e/episode-2-...

A close up of a houseplant on a desk whose leaves have a bunch of little holes in them that are roughly the size and shape of cat teeth. Text says "I wonder how these holes got here?"

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David Moscato @dmos150.bsky.social · May 2

I'm producing a podcast with a pair of proficient plant-ladies! The first two episodes are out, and it's a ton of fun!

(I'm also on the podcast, but you'll mostly have to check out the bonus content to hear me)

Leaf It To Us Podcast @leafittouspod.bsky.social · May 1

Hello! Leaf it to Us is a podcast about the science of plants and their importance to us humans!

Leaf it to Us is a descendant of @commondescentpod.bsky.social. They don't talk enough about plants, so we have BRANCHED off and said "Leaf it to Us!"

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David Moscato @dmos150.bsky.social · Apr 25

Um, actually, that's the past.

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